This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

22828 

Vol. 76, No. 79 

Monday, April 25, 2011 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0384; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–NM–058–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Model 737–700 Series 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Model 737–700 series airplanes. This 

proposed AD would require, for certain 

airplanes, replacing the seat track pivot 

link assemblies, seat track sections, and 

floor panels. For certain airplanes, this 

proposed AD would also require moving 

certain rows of passenger seats. For 

certain other airplanes, this proposed 

AD would require inspecting certain 

areas of the seat tracks for damage and 

corrective actions if necessary, and 

moving certain rows of passenger seats. 

This proposed AD results from reports 

that the aft seat leg fittings span the 

station (STA) 521.45 stay-out zone. We 

are proposing this AD to prevent failure 

of the seat attachment structure and 

possible injury to passengers during an 

emergency landing. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by June 9, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; e-mail 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227– 

1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 

9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(telephone 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Patrick Gillespie, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety and Environmental 

Systems Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

425–917–6429; fax 425–917–6590. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2011–0384; Directorate Identifier 

2010–NM–058–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

We have received a report that the aft 

seat leg fittings span the station (STA) 

521.45 stay-out zone. The STA 521.45 

stay-out zone defines the flex area of the 

airplane while in flight and defines 

fatigue loading of the airplane structure. 

On some airplanes, the passenger seat 

leg shear plunger is installed across the 

seat track pivot joint at approximately 

STA 521. The existing passenger seat 

track and pivot link design was not 

intended to carry seat leg plunger point 

loads at this location. This condition, if 

not corrected, could result in failure of 

the seat attachment structure and 

possible injury to passengers during an 

emergency landing. 

Relevant Service Information 

We have reviewed Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletins 737–25– 

1598, dated December 8, 2009; and 737– 

25–1599, dated January 20, 2010. Those 

special attention service bulletins 

describe procedures for doing a general 

visual inspection of the seat tracks in 

the area of STA 521.45 for damage, and 

corrective actions if necessary, and 

moving certain rows of seats. The 

corrective actions include modifying the 

seat tracks. 

We have also reviewed Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 737–53– 

1286, Revision 1, dated December 14, 

2009, which describes procedures for: 

• Replacing floor panels with new 

floor panels between STA 500C and 

STA 540; 

• Replacing seat track pivot link 

assemblies with new assemblies; and 

• Replacing seat track sections 

between STA 500C + 9.25 and STA 520 

with new seat track sections. 

We have reviewed Boeing Special 

Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1596, dated November 20, 2008, which 

describes procedures for, among other 

things, moving certain airplane seats to 

the correct location on the seat tracks. 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 79 / Monday, April 25, 2011 / Proposed Rules 22829 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all relevant information and 

determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. This proposed AD would 

require accomplishing the actions 

specified in the service information 

described previously, except as 

discussed under ‘‘Difference Between 

the Proposed AD and a Service 

Bulletin.’’ 

Difference Between the Proposed AD 

and a Service Bulletin 

Where Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 737–25–1596, dated 

November 20, 2008, specifies the 

accomplishment of Recaro Service 

Bulletin 4400–25DC052, this proposed 

AD would not require that action. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 50 airplanes of U.S. 

registry. The following table provides 

the estimated costs for U.S. operators to 

comply with this proposed AD. 

TABLE—ESTIMATED COSTS

Boeing Service Bulletin Work hours Average labor 

rate per hour Parts Cost per product 

Number of 

U.S.-registered 

airplanes 

Fleet cost 

737–53–1286 .................................. 96 $85 Up to $28,258 .. Up to $36,418 .. 50 Up to 

$1,820,900. 

737–25–1596 .................................. 4 85 None ................. 340 ................... 12 4,080. 

737–25–1598 .................................. 3 85 None ................. 255 ................... 1 255. 

737–25–1599 .................................. 3 85 None ................. 255 ................... 14 3,570. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. ‘‘Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs,’’ describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in ‘‘Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: 

General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

Government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979), and 

3. Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

You can find our regulatory 

evaluation and the estimated costs of 

compliance in the AD Docket. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new AD: 

The Boeing Company: Docket No. FAA– 

2011–0384; Directorate Identifier 2010– 

NM–058–AD. 

Comments Due Date 

(a) We must receive comments by June 9, 

2011. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to The Boeing 

Company Model 737–700 series airplanes, 

certificated in any category; as identified in 

the service bulletins specified in paragraphs 

(c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this AD. 

(1) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 737–53–1286, Revision 1, dated 

December 14, 2009. 

(2) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 737–25–1598, dated December 8, 

2009. 

(3) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 737–25–1599, dated January 20, 

2010. 

Subject 

(d) Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 25: Equipment/Furnishings. 

Unsafe Condition 

(e) This AD results from reports that the aft 

seat leg fittings span the station (STA) 521.45 

stay-out zone. The Federal Aviation 

Administration is issuing this AD to prevent 

failure of the seat attachment structure and 

possible injury to passengers during an 

emergency landing. 

Compliance 

(f) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Modifying Seat Track Structure 

(g) For airplanes identified in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–53– 

1286, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2009: 

Within 72 months after the effective date of 

this AD, replace, with new components, 

certain floor panels, seat track pivot link 

assemblies, and seat track sections with new 

components, and modify certain seat tracks, 

in accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Boeing Special Attention 

Service Bulletin 737–53–1286, Revision 1, 

dated December 14, 2009. 

Moving Seat Rows After Modifying Seat 

Track Structure 

(h) For airplanes identified in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1596, dated November 20, 2008: Move 

certain seat rows in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1596, dated November 20, 2008, at the 

applicable time required in paragraph (h)(1) 

or (h)(2) of this AD. 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
22830 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 79 / Monday, April 25, 2011 / Proposed Rules 

(1) For airplanes identified in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–53– 

1286, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2009: 

After accomplishing the requirements of 

paragraph (g) of this AD but within 72 

months after the effective date of this AD. 

(2) For airplanes not identified in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–53– 

1286, Revision 1, dated December 14, 2009: 

Within 72 months after the effective date of 

this AD. 

Moving Seat Rows and General Visual 

Inspection of Seat Tracks 

(i) For airplanes identified in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1598, dated December 8, 2009: Within 72 

months after the effective date of this AD, do 

a general visual inspection of certain areas of 

the seat tracks for damage, all applicable 

corrective actions, and move certain seat 

rows, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1598, dated December 8, 2009. Do all 

applicable corrective actions before further 

flight. 

(j) For airplanes identified in Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1599, dated January 20, 2010: Within 72 

months after the effective date of this AD, do 

a general visual inspection of certain areas of 

the seat tracks for damage, do all applicable 

corrective actions, and move certain seat 

rows, in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions of Boeing 

Special Attention Service Bulletin 737–25– 

1599, dated January 20, 2010. Do all 

applicable corrective actions before further 

flight. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(k)(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office (ACO), FAA, has the 

authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 

requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in the 

Related Information section of this AD. 

Information may be e-mailed to: 9-ANMSeattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

Related Information 

(l) For more information about this AD, 

contact Patrick Gillespie, Aerospace 

Engineer, Cabin Safety and Environmental 

Systems Branch, ANM–150S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057– 

3356; telephone 425–917–6429; fax 425–917– 

6590; e-mail patrick.gillespie@faa.gov. 

(m) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, Washington 98124–2207; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 1, fax 206–766– 

5680; e-mail me.boecom@boeing.com; 

Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on April 15, 

2011. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–9894 Filed 4–22–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0040; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NM–203–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sicma Aero 

Seat 88xx, 89xx, 90xx, 91xx, 92xx, 

93xx, 95xx, and 96xx Series Passenger 

Seat Assemblies, Installed on Various 

Transport Category Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM); 

reopening of comment period. 

SUMMARY: We are revising an earlier 

NPRM for the products listed above. 

This action revises the earlier NPRM by 

expanding the scope. This proposed AD 

results from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority of 

another country to identify and correct 

an unsafe condition on an aviation 

product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 

condition as: 

Cracks have been found on seats [with] 

backrest links P/N (part number) 90–000200– 

104–1 and 90–000200–104–2. These cracks 

can significantly affect the structural integrity 

of seat backrests. 

Failure of the backrest links could result 

in injury to an occupant during 

emergency landing conditions. The 

proposed AD would require actions that 

are intended to address the unsafe 

condition described in the MCAI. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by June 9, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–40, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 

9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Sicma Aero 

Seat, 7, Rue Lucien Coupet, 36100 

ISSOUDUN, France; telephone 

33 (0) 2 54 03 39 39; fax 33 (0) 2 54 03 

39 00; e-mail: 

customerservices@sicma.zodiac.com; 

Internet http://www.sicma.zodiac.com/ 

en/. You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the 

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 425–227–1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Operations office between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Operations 

office (telephone (800) 647–5527) is in 

the ADDRESSES section. Comments will 

be available in the AD docket shortly 

after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 

Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 

Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, 

Massachusetts 01803; telephone 

(781) 238–7161; fax (781) 238–7170. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2010–0040; Directorate Identifier 

2008–NM–203–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD based on those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS